Wilkes University (5-13) at University of Scranton (5-8)
Sunday, February 5
Start Time: 1:00 p.m.
John Long Center

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Match Notes

Colonels Notebook
• Wilkes wrestling will go on the road as they face the University of Scranton for a dual match on Sunday, February 5 at 1:00 p.m. inside John Long Center.

• The Colonels hosted the John Reese duals on Sunday, January 29. Cameron Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) went 3-0 on the day while Caleb Burkhart (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) won both of his matchups along with James Geiger (Dallas, PA/Dallas), who had two falls in his 2-0 day.

• Wilkes placed fourth of eight teams at the 2023 MAC Championship last Saturday. Butka won the 197 pound title and earned First Team All-MAC honors. Austin Fashouer (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) and Christopher Nuss (Gore, VA/James Wood) earned Third Team All-MAC honors for the 125 and 174 weight classes respectively. Hunter Lowe (Westminster, MD/Winters Mill) (197) and Burkhart (285) finished fifth in their brackets while Michael Richardson (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) (133) and Jack Bauer (Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central) (141) placed sixth in their respective weight classes.
 
• The Colonels competed in the Budd Whitehill Duals on January 13-14, winning their last two matchups against Ferrum College 28-17 and Oswego State 30-20. Fashouer and Burkhart went 5-0 during the weekend, with both men being named to the All-Tournament Team. Bauer also ended the two-day dual tournament with a 4-0 record at 141. Butka finished 3-1 in the two days he competed in. 

• Wilkes participated in the NWCA National Duals, finishing the weekend with a 33-9 team win over the University of Mount Union. Burkhart went 3-0 on the weekend with three pins, earning MAC Wrestler of the Week for his performance. Fashouer and Butka finished 2-1 during their matches while Bauer concluded the weekend with a 3-1 record at the NWCA National Duals. 

• Wilkes competed on December 9 in a dual matchup where they fell to Delaware Valley University 23-15. Bauer and Butka got three points in their decision victories at their respective weight classes while Charles Everdale (Freeland, PA/Hazleton Area) scored a fall in 32 seconds to keep Wilkes in their matchup with the Aggies.

• The Colonels competed in four additional tournaments this season not including the MAC Championships mentioned above from last week: Ned McGinley Invitational, Racich Rumble, Blue Jay Classic, and the Wilkes Open. The Colonels had nine grapplers finish in the top-6 at Ned McGinley, and 11 in the top-6 at the Blue Jay Classic. The Colonels had two wrestlers in the Racich Rumble and the Wilkes Open also finishing in the top-6 as well.

• Five grapplers have won titles in tournaments this season. Fashouer (125) and Butka (197) got first place at the Blue Jay Classic while Bauer (141) and Geiger (174) took titles at the Ned McGinley Invitational. Butka was the first repeat champion for the Colonels with the 197 title at the MAC Championship.

• Wilkes competed in the Dr. Sam Case Duals on November 20 where they had three dual matches. They beat John Hopkins 24-23 and Pittsburgh-Bradford 35-13 before falling in their last meet to host McDaniel 23-22.

• The Colonels fell to Elizabethtown 24-22 in their road dual match on Friday, November 18.

• Butka was ranked 14th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) rankings at 197 on February 2. He was also placed second in the NWCA Individual Regional Southeast Rankings in the 197 division. Fashouer (125) was placed fifth in the regional rankings while Bauer (141), Nuss (174), and Burkhart (285) were all placed sixth in their respective weight classes.
 
• Burkhart is tied for second in Division III wrestling with falls, as he has accumulated 16 on the year. His 37:39 time in his falls are ahead of the two wrestlers he is tied with in the rankings. Burkhart has 17 total falls this season (one against a Division II wrestler) as he closes in on the single season record for falls, which is 20 that was set in 2002-03 season.

• In the d3wrestle.com individual rankings that came out January 25th, Fashouer, Butka, and Burkhart were all Honorable-Mentions in their respective weight classes.

• The Colonels 2022-2023 roster goes 29 deep with a class breakdown of: 4 seniors; 6 juniors; 9 sophomores; and 10 first-years.

• The roster features athletes from six states: Pennsylvania – 16; New Jersey – 7; New York – 2; Virginia – 2; Maryland – 1; Louisiana - 1.

Weighing-In
125    A. Fashouer (24-8)
133    M. Richardson (8-6)
141    J. Bauer (22-4)
149    J. Hartranft (3-12)
157    C. Dix (4-10)
165    C. Everdale (11-16)
165    J. Geiger (16-9)
174    C. Nuss (15-10)
184    J. Devito (10-22)
184    H. Lowe (21-10)
197    C. Butka (22-4)
285    C. Burkhart (24-8)